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The search for a boyfriend has begun for bronze medal-winning star paddler Feng Tianwei.
He must be Singaporean and someone who can speak Mandarin.
Never mind long walks, whispering sweet-nothings, or being sensitive.
Better that he be supportive of Feng in her professional career.
That means he must also be willing to tolerate the likelihood that she may be travelling most of the time.
“It’s difficult,” Feng said in an interview two years ago, “to be in a relationship if you are in a different city (for tournaments) every day.”
But, Feng reckoned then: “It will be good to have someone who can take care of me.”
Money will now be less of a concern: She will pocket $250,000 for her bronze medal in the singles.
She will also split the $375,000 awarded for the team bronze medal with teammates Li Jiawei and Wang Yuegu. A portion – 20 per cent – of the winnings will go to the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA).
The seemingly uphill task has been left in the hands of Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Chan Chun Sing, revealed Ms Lee Bee Wah yesterday afternoon.
The STTA president said: “I’ve put the (match-making) project into action.”
“When Acting Minister Chan was in London to support the team, I decided to broach the topic when we were having lunch.
“I told him that I needed a favour and hoped that he could please help... find Tianwei a boyfriend.”
Ms Lee added with another burst of laughter: “I think he was caught off-guard and nearly choked on his food.”
But the good news is, Mr Chan has agreed to help.
Ms Lee said: “He’s going to start looking for someone from the Ministry of Defence.”
And the table tennis chief has shared the good news with Feng.
When we confirmed it with Feng, who turns 26 later this month, she broke into a wide, girlish smile.
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